Thursday at Talladega Superspeedway, I attended the Laps for Life Blood & Marrow drive sponsored by the American Red Cross and the Hendrick Marrow Program. NASCAR fans were lured to donate with goody bags, door prizes, museum tour, track tour and best of all - three laps around the 2.66 mile track in a Hemi-powered Dodge Charger.

After donating blood and wolfing down a complimentary hot dog, chips and cookies, I boarded a mini tour bus. The bus toured the perimeter of turns 3 and 4. The bus driver then stopped next to the fence so we could view the 60-foot drop across the 33-degree banked track. TV doesn't do it justice, this track is steep!
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Jody PotterThis Dodge gives four doors a good name.

Jody PotterLots of cars to check out in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum.

The tour bus wheeled to pit road where two bright red 2008 Dodge Chargers with 345-horsepower engines. Both were stock except for the decals. My dad and I climbed into a red rocket with a driver who shall remain nameless, should his boss see the video.

Our driver took off modestly, the first 100 yards, then dropped the hammer on the go pedal. I believed we were pegged full-throttle for the first mile and a half. We accelerated into triple digits before we exited turn two. The high-banked track felt like a giant magnet sucking the bottom of the car down to the pavement. As we approached Turn 3 our fearless driver feathered the throttle slightly, as we had gained considerable speed along the 1-mile, arrow straight backstretch. I felt my recently ingested hot dog hugging the bottom of my stomach as we rocketed through the center of Turns 3 and 4. The G-forces are unlike anything I've felt while riding on rubber tires. A roller coaster making a loop is the only thing close to the same feeling.
Wide-open into the tri-oval were the only times our pilot visibly had to manhandle the steering wheel.

This track was built for speed, my three-lap experience went by quickly. Our ride was over. I exited the Dodge and slowly walked away from what I consider my new "fast." It was a thrill-ride. Give blood next year and you could get the ride of your life.